Pack-type parachute and releasing means



Feb. 14, 1950 J, w. HORNING 2,497,772

PACK-TYPE PARACHUTE mu RELEASING MEANS Filed June 27, 1947. I V v 5Sheets-Sheet 1 7'0 PILOT any IN V EN TOR.

Feb. 14,1950 W HO N1NG 2,497,772

PACK-TYPE PARACHUTE AND RELEASING MEANS Filed June 27, 194? 5Sheets-Sheet 2 v p140 7' 6/70 TE 396K TRAY INVENTOR, JA/WES WWW/V6 Feb.14, 1950 J. w. HQRNING PACK-TYPE FARACHUTE AND RELEASING MEANS 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 27, 1947 m m m .m

Feb. 14, 1950 w, HORNlNG 2,497,772

' I PACK-TYPE PARACHUTE AND RELEASING MEANS Filed June 27, 1947 5Sheets-Sheet 4 1 55512110 LIA/E5 rarr/sms INVENTOR.

Feb. 14, 1950 J. w. HORNING 2,497,772

PACK-TYPE PARACHUTE AND RELEA SING MEANS Filed June 27, 1947 5Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. JAI'E5 m IVORN/N? i atented 14,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PACK-TYPE PARACHUTE AND RELEASING MEANSApplication June 27, 1947, Serial No. 757,441

6 Claims.

This invention relates to parachutes of the pack type used by aviatorsmaking jumps from airplanes.

At the present time it is customary to so fold and pack the canopy andthe shroud lines that when a jump is made the canopy is first withdrawnand then the shroud lines. As thecanopy is withdrawn it is carriedlaterally by the slip stream and is in such position that after thecanopy has all been withdrawn and the shroud lines are then withdrawnand pulled downwardly by the weight of the aviator for causing rightingof the canopy the lines are liable to become entangled with the canopyand prevent it from righting itself and opening. Therefore the aviatorfalls without his descent being checked by the parachute and he isliable to be killed or badly injured.

Therefore one object of the invention is to provide a parachute sopacked. that when a jump is made the shrouds will be first withdrawn andthen the canopy, thus causing the shroud lines to be entirely withdrawnto an extended position before the canopy is released and allowing thecanopy to immediately start opening as it is withdrawn. It will thus beseen that the canop will be withdrawn in its proper position above theshroud lines and be quickly opened and entirely extended by the time ithas been withdrawn from the pack.

Another object of the invention is to provide a parachute wherein thecanopy and the shroud lines are packed in a cover instead of in the packtray carried by the harness, the cover being provided with wings or airpockets which are pulled toward an extended position as :the cover andtray are dragged loose from each other after the pilot chute has beenreleased and serve toform the cover into an auxiliary pilot chute whichassists in causing the shroud lines and the canopy tobe released as theaviator drops toward the earth.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cover into which thecanop may be closely packed and prevented from shifting therein andbecoming tangled as it is withdrawn.

Another object of the invention is to provid a parachute wherein thecover into which the canopy is packed carries wings or ears so formedand mounted that they may be folded closely against the cover when theparachute is packed, elastic means being provided for swinging the wingsupwardly to an extended position, and the said elastic members being somounted that they may be tensioned after the cover with the folded.Winss have been applied to the tray and thus pre 2 vent the wings frommoving toward an extended position as the cover is applied to the trailAnother object of the invention is to provide a parachute having wingsapplied to a cover in such manner that when they are extended they willnot be torn loose by pull of air filling the wings.

Another object of the invention is to provide a parachute which issimple in construction, quick and eflicient in operation, easy to pack,and capable of being manufactured at low cost.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the improved pack after the pilot chute hasbeen released.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parachute pack.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-4 of Figure 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 showing the packedparachute pulled from the tray and wings of the cover extended.

Fig. 6 is a view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 3 looking at thebottom of the packed parachute with the pack tray removed.

Fig. '7 is a view taken along the line 1--| of Figure 5.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the pilot chute connectedwith the cover and the canopy of the parachute partially withdrawn fromthe cover.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of Figure 8 with the pilot chute omitted.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line Ill-l [I ofFigure 1.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a corner portion of the cover and thepack tray.

Fig. 12 is a bottom plan vie-w of the cover showing a portion of theline connecting the cover with the canopy of the parachute.

This improved parachute pack is used for stowing a parachute ofconventional design and dimensions. The parachute has a canopy l and theusual shroud lines 2 which are attached at their lower ends to therisers or straps 3 by means of which the parachute is connected with theharness worn by the person who is to make a jump. There has also beenprovided the usual pilot chute 4 connected with a pull rope or line 5and to the harness worn by the aviator is mounted a pack tray 6 ofconventional size and shape.

Instead of having the rope 5 directly connected with the canopycentrally of the vent opening 3 thereof this rope is tied to a pair ofhalter ropes I mounted in crossed relation to each other centrally ofthe top of a cover 8. This cover is formed of strong fabric, such ascanvas, and is reinforced by fabric strips 9 to which the hopes 1 aresecured. Marginal portions of the cover are turned downwardly to formside and end walls for the cover, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, and edgesof the fabric sheet of fabric from which the cover is formed are securedabout a metal frame H! to which are also secured fabric webs H which arereinforced by metal rods l2 and form the cover with a mouth of reduceddimensions, as shown in Figures 7 and 12. A short rope I3 is secured tothe under or inner face of the top of the cover and to this rope isconnected the upper end of the rope l4 leading from the vent opening atthe center of the canopy l. Tapes I5 are mounted at outer edges of thewebs I l and spaced from each other transversely of the webs and thesetapes carry at their free ends snap fastener members for engagingcompanion snap fastener members carried by the webs so that the tapesmay be releasably secured across folds of the shroud lines 2. By soforming the cover and so connecting the canopy l and the pilot chutewith it, the canopy may be folded in a conventional manner and stowedwithin the cover, the cover being in an inverted position, and theshroud lines then strung back and forth across the bottom of the coverand secured at folds by the tapes. After the shroud lines have beenengaged with the tapes lower portions of the shroud lines are coiledupon the secured portions of the shroud lines and Wings or air pockets 5carried by the cover are moved to the position shown in Figure 6. Thesewings or ears are formed of silk, or other light Weight fabric, and havetapered upper portions sewed along their edges to upper sur-- faces ofside and end portions of the cover, as shown in Figure 1. Lower edges ofthe sheets of fabric from which the ears are formed are secured aboutarcuate rods or yokes H which are pivoted to corner portions of the websl I as shown at I8, thereby pivotally mounting the binding rods or yokesso that they may have swinging movement from the folded position shownin Figure 6 to the extended position shown in Figure 7. Seams I9 alongsides of the pockets are provided with eyes or loops 20 at their outerends through which cords 2| are tied to temporarily connect adjacentside edges of pockets or ears and thus allow them to be held close tocorner portions of the cover when the ears are in the folded position.When the ears are swung outwardly to an extended position the cords may,or may not, be broken by a snapping strain, and if they are broken theywill be replaced with other cords when again packing the parachute.Elastic pull lines or cords 22 are secured at their outer ends to theyokes or frames ll midway the width thereof, and these pull lines extendinwardly of the pockets with their inner end portions passing betweeninner end portions thereof and the top of the cover 8. Hooks 23 aremounted at inner ends of the pull lines so that after the pockets orears have been swung to the folded position shown in Figure 6 and thestowed canopy and shroud lines fitted into the tray 6 as shown inFigures 2 and 3, upper ends of the lines 22 may be pulled toward each totension them and a cord 24 then engaged with the hooks and tied to holdthe lines under tension. The pilot chute is then drawn snugly about thecover and walls of the tray and secured by a conventional rip cord andthe parachute is ready for use.

When a jump is to be made the aviator jumps from the moving airplane andafter falling a suitable distance below the airplane the rip cord ispulled to release the pilot chute which is carried upwardly and exertspull upon the cover to displace the cover from the tray. As the cover isdisplaced from the tray the elastic pull lines swing the ears or pocketsoutwardly and upwardly and they move to an extended position so thatthey will be filled with air and assist the pilot chute to support thecover. The tray remains in position upon the harness worn by the aviatorand as the aviator drops downwardly from the cover the shroud lines willbe drawn downwardly after him, the inner ends of the tapes [5 beingsuccessively released from the webs II until the shroud lines have beencompletely detached from the webs. The canopy is then pulled out of thecover through the constructed mouth thereof and as it is drawn from thecover it will begin to open and the shroud lines will be spread. It willthus be seen that the canopy is withdrawn from the cover after theshroud lines have been fully released from the cover and that since thecanopy will be above the shroud lines it can not become entangled withthe shroud lines. In addition the canopy begins to open immediately uponits being pulled out of the cover and this spreads the shroud lines andalso causes it to be very quickly withdrawn from the cover which remainsin place over the opened canopy with the pilot chute attached to it. Themanner in which the shroud lines are first pulled free from the coverand then the canopy is shown in Figures 5 and 8 but it will beunderstood that the canopy begins to open as soon as its marginalportion is withdrawn from the cover instead of remaining in the compactmass shown in Figure 8. After a jump has been made the canopy is againpacked in the cover, the shroud lines folded upon the tray and securedby the tapes l5 and the cord 24 broken so that the wings or ears may beagain swung to the folded position under the cover and the cover thrustinto the tray, the pull lines then pulled outwardly and tied by a cordand the pilot chutes applied to the cover and the tray and secured by arip cord.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a parachute, a pack tray, a canopy, shroud lines for said canopy,a cover, the canopy being stowed within the cover through an opening inthe bottom thereof and the shroud lines being folded against the bottomof the cover and detachably secured with portions extending therefromfor connection with risers of a harness, ears carried by said cover andmovable from a folded position in covering relation to the shroud linesand the bottom of the cover to an extended position outwardly andupwardly from marginal edge portions of the cover when the cover iswithdrawn from the pack tray, elastic pull lines carried by the ears, acord detachably connecting the pull lines with each other andreleasalbly holding the pull lines under sufficient tension to pull theears to the extended position, and a pilot chute mounted over the covercentrally thereof for pulling the cover out of the tray.

' 2. In a parachute, a canopy, shroud lines for said canopy, a coveropen at its bottom, the canopy being stowed within the cover through thebottom opening thereof and the shroud lines being folded and detachablysecured against the bottom of the cover, fabric ears carried by saidcover and movable from a folded position under the cover to an extendedposition and when extended [forming air pockets, elastic [pull linescarried by said ears and extending across the cover and releasably heldunder tension, and a pilot chute connected with the cover.

3. In a parachute, a cover open at its bottom, a canopy connected withsaid cover and stowed within the cover through the open bottom thereof,shroud lines folded against the bottom of the cover with portionsextending therefrom for connection with risers of a harness whereby as ajump is made the shrouds will first be drawn to an extended position andthen the canopy withdrawn from the cover, sheets of fabric carried bysaid cover and movable from a folded position against the cover to anextended position in which they form air pockets and elastic lpull linesfor urging the fabric sheets to an extended position.

{1. In a parachute, a canopy, shroud lines for said canopy, a coverhaving a top and side walls and end walls, said cover being ofdimensions adapting it to fit within a pack tray, webs extending acrossend portions of the cover and defining a reduced opening through thebottom of the cover, the canopy being connected with the cover and beingstowed into the cover through the bottom opening thereof, tapes carriedby said webs for engaging portions of the shroud lines and releasab-lyholding the same against the webs with portions extending across theopening between the webs, yokes pivoted to the webs at corners of thecover for swinging movement from a (folded position under the cover toan extended position outwardly of the cover, sheets of fabric secured tothe yokes and having portions secured upon the outer surface of the topof the cover, the yokes and said fabric sheets forming pockets moved toan extended lpOSit'iOn by air currents, elastic pull lines connectedwith the yokes for swinging the yokes toward an extended position whenthe cover is dislodged from a pack tray, and a pilot chute connectedwith the top of the cover.

5. In a parachute, a cover open at its bottom, a canopy connected withthe cover and stowed into the cover through the open bottom thereof,

shroud lines for said canopy, releasable fasteners for releasablyholding the shroud lines close against the bottom of the cover, airpockets carried by the cover and movable from a folded osition under thecover to an extended position laterally of the cover when the cover isdislodged from the pack tray, elastic pull lines attached to edgeportions of said pockets and extending across the top of said cover, anda looped cord engaged with ends of the pull lines and holding the pulllines under tension until broken.

6- A pack cover for a parachute comprising a body open at its bottom forinsertion of the canopy of a parachute and having side walls and endwalls, tapes carried by opposed walls of the body and spaced from eachother transversely thereof, said terms :being of a length adapting themto be engaged about portions of bunched shroud lines of a parachute andhold the said shroud lines in position to extend back and forth acrossthe open bottom of the pack cover and under a canopy stored in thecover, and members for securing the tapes about the said portions of theshroud lines adapted to be released by downward lpull exerted upon theshroud lines, whereby when a jump is made the shroud lines will be firstdrawn downwardly from the cover and the CEtllOipy then pulled downwardlyout of the cover above the shroud lines in position for opening.

JAMES W. HORNING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,487,825 Watkins Mar. 25, 19241,603,648 'Ihornblad Oct. 19, 1926 1,795,168 Habermehl Mar. 3, 19312,383,293 Dearstyne et a1. Aug. 21, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 147,993 Great Britain July 23, 1920 155,787 Great Britain Dec. 23,1920

